FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2019
Contact: Caleb Siem, Program Specialist
National Rural Health Resource Center
(218) 216-7043 | csiem@ruralcenter.org
The National Rural Health Resource Center Releases A Rural Guide to Improving COPD Care
The guide can be accessed here.
The National Rural Health Resource Center is pleased to announce the release of a guide to support rural patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In response to the National COPD Action Plan, this guide will increase awareness about the potential community and patient benefits of implementing pulmonary rehabilitation services for rural Americans. Targeted to Critical Access Hospitals, provider-based rural health clinics, and State Offices of Rural Health, this guide was supported by the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.
This guide provides information about COPD and clarity around best practices of care management for those with COPD in rural communities. The objective of the guide is to help Rural and Community Hospital leadership develop a thorough understanding of COPD services in rural areas. The guide covers the clinical diagnosis and treatment of COPD including treatment options available and new developments in technology that are useful to rural populations and this disease.
Rural and Community Hospitals and clinics should use this guide to identify areas for improvement with their diagnosis, treatment, and long-term care of COPD patients in their communities. State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) partners may also benefit from this guide as it assists them in asking the right questions when meeting with clinic and hospital leadership.
The National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center) contracted with Stroudwater Associates on this project. This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UB1RH24206, Information Services to Rural and Community Hospital Flexibility Program Grantees, $1,100,000 (0% financed with nongovernmental sources). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
Download: A Rural and Community Hospital Guide to Improving Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease